One Night Only

Chapter 19

✳✳✳Owen Carter✳✳✳

I wake up with a terrible ache in my neck from sleeping on the couch in the strip club last night. Looking around, I see Aubrey curled up on the couch beside me. Thankfully she isn't touching me so I slowly stand up and quietly leave the room. All of the bodies have disappeared and most of the mess has been cleaned but I can feel the difference in the air. We lost quite a few men yesterday. Rubbing the back of my neck, I wander down the hallway to Dominic's room. When I open the door, he is laying across the couch shirtless. Madison is nowhere in sight. "Hey. She's in the shower."

"Do you know how bad this looks?" I ask.

His eyes widen. "Owen, nothing happened. I wouldn't do that to you. She's been off limits since you first showed interest in her."

Closing the door behind me, I head towards the bathroom door. It's locked so I knock. "I'm almost done," she says.

"Let me in."

"Owen? No, I'm not letting you in."

"Why the fuck not?" I ask angrily.

"Go back to the strip club with Aubrey," she says.

What the fuck? Turning, I head back into the living room where Dominic is now wearing a shirt. Fisting his shirt, I pull him up. "What the fuck, Owen?"

"I told you to get me when she woke up."

"She woke up before me. You could have just slept here or took her back to your room," he says.

"I gave you an order."

He shakes his head. "You couldn't even stay awake last night. What makes you think I could?" I release him, running my fingers through my hair. "I don't know what's going on with you but you need to chill. Maybe taking on these all of these responsibilities wasn't for you."

I shake my head. "I've done this my whole life."

"But your father took care of all the screw ups and threats. You weren't ready for it. You don't know how to handle it."

"And you do?" I snap.

He shakes his head. "No. And these accusations have to stop or I'll switch to Michael's house. Our friendship has been going downhill ever since she got here even though I've reassured you so many times that nothing would ever happen. We're friends. If you can't accept that then I'll leave," he shrugs.

I shake my head. "Don't go. I'm sorry," I say before taking a deep breath. "I'll check in with you later. I need a shower."

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Looking down at the floor, I sigh. "Keep an eye on her please. She's not talking to me."

"I will."

"Thanks Dominic."

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✳✳✳Madison✳✳✳

Dominic sets a plate in front of me and I roll my eyes. "You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"If you don't eat then I'm going to make you leave."

Picking up the fork, I take a bite and he smiles. I begged him to let me stay in here so this is his way of getting me to listen. Sitting across from me, he picks up his fork and begins eating. "Don't you have work to do?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "The women do all of the cleaning and the men only do what is asked of us."

"Typical," I say, taking another bite.

He chuckles. "Well, Montano is dead so we don't have anyone to go after."

"Did Owen tell you to watch me?" I ask curiously.

He hesitates so I give him a look. He sighs. "Yes."

I shake my head. "I'm not a child."

"Then why aren't you speaking to him?" he asks.

I furrow my eyebrows. "He was in the strip club with that whore last night. God knows what they were doing."

"But you're getting married in a week or so. Don't you think you're wasting time by not speaking to him?"

I shake my head. "Not at all. It was his idea to get married." It's his turn to give me to the look so I sigh. "Fine. I'll talk to him tonight."

He glances at his watch. "Can I take you somewhere after we're done eating?"

"Where?" I ask before taking another bite.

"Just say yes or no."

"Yes."

"Good."

We finish the rest of our meal in silence and I take care of our dishes. I'm about to wash them when he stops me. "Just leave them. I'll get them later. Let's go."

Drying my hands, I toss the towel on the counter and follow him out of the room. As we walk through the house, I look around to see the damage. There are still some broken items around but most of the mess has already been cleaned. A chill runs down my spine when I think about last nights events. Dominic saved my life.

Without really thinking about it, I reach out and take his hand. He glances at me, his eyes warming from the action. Looking forward, he pulls a little closer as he heads to the garage. He grabs the keys to the Audi and holds them up. "Do you want to drive?" he offers.

I shake my head. "You can."

Unlocking the car, he opens the passenger door. Releasing his hand, I climb in and he closes the door. When he gets in, he presses the button for the garage door to open and we're on our way. Instead of heading into the city, he sticks to the outskirts of town. Ten minutes pass and he slows down. He turns down a dirt road where there is an old wooden sign labeled Mongolia Cemetery. I glance at him in confusion but he stares ahead impassively. The grass is overgrown but you can still read the headstones. About halfway through the cemetery he parks the car and turns it off.

Wordlessly, he climbs out and makes his way around the car as I unbuckle. Opening my door, he holds out his hand for me to take. I step out of the car and he closes the door before leading me down a row of headstones. When he stops, my eyes follow his gaze to the headstone labeled:

In Loving Momory of
Tonya Sinclair
2/10/1980-2/11/2017
Mother, Wife, Friend

Releasing my hand, he sits down and pats the spot beside him. "Sit and I'll tell you about her."

Looking at the headstone once more, I take a deep breath and sit down beside him.

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{A/N: Home sweet home! After spending a month up in Michigan with my family, I have finally returned to my home in Florida so there shouldn't be huge gaps between updates. Although, just to be clear, I typically update when the previous chapter says Updated 3 Days Ago or when there is a high number of comments. (Also, prepare yourselves for the next chapter🙈) Thank you.}